Poker Hands – Ranking. Every poker player knows that the Royal Flush is the strongest poker hand, but where do all of the other poker winning hands rank? Here is a comprehensive list of poker hands in order from highest to lowest ranking. This chart will give you the rank of Texas Hold’em hands from best to worst. This can serve as an easy list of all hands sorted by strength rather than separated by biggest starting card. I am including all 13 pocket pairs and 78 unique non-paired starting hands for a total of 91 hands. Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker variant in the US. It is also the ranking game internationally, dwarfing other poker games by a long margin. This Poker Hands Guide is based on Texas Hold’em hand rankings, and it will reveal the best-kept secrets to forming winning hand combinations. Below you will find a list of poker hands in order from highest to lowest to help you get started, as well as the top starting hands for Texas Hold'em. Click the button on the right to get a cheat sheet that displays the traditional poker hand rankings, which are used in the most popular variants of poker (such as Texas Hold‘em).

• Texas Hold'em Poker Hands Ranking Chart
• Texas Holdem Poker Hands Ranked
• Texas Holdem Poker Hands Rankings
• Texas Holdem Poker Hands Ranked

Introduction

The following table ranks the top hands in a 3-player game. This table assumes that all players stay in until the end.

Explanation of column headings:

• Cards: Initial two-card hand.
• Probability of win: Probability that this hand will win, or tie for the win.
• Average win: This is how much the player will win on average, including his own bets, if the player does win. This is less than 3 because sometimes the player will have to split the pot.
• Expected value: This is how many units the player can expected to win (positive) or lose (negative) with this hand. For example if the player had a pair of aces and contibuted $1 to the pot then the player could expect to have a net win of $1.20.
• Probability: Probability of getting this hand to begin with.
• Additive probability: Probability of getting this hand or any stronger hand to begin with.

Initial Hold'em Hands in Rank Order for 3-Player Game

Cards	Probability of Win	Average Win	Expected Value	Probability	Additive Probability
Pair of A's	73.78%	2.99	1.2034	0.45%	0.45%
Pair of K's	69.21%	2.99	1.066	0.45%	0.9%
Pair of Q's	65.29%	2.98	0.9475	0.45%	1.36%
Pair of J's	61.57%	2.98	0.835	0.45%	1.81%
Pair of T's	58.02%	2.98	0.7272	0.45%	2.26%
Pair of 9's	54.08%	2.97	0.6084	0.45%	2.71%
A/K suited	51.77%	2.94	0.5221	0.3%	3.02%
Pair of 8's	50.46%	2.97	0.4986	0.45%	3.47%
A/Q suited	50.56%	2.93	0.4824	0.3%	3.77%
A/K unsuited	49.28%	2.93	0.4462	0.9%	4.68%
A/J suited	49.49%	2.92	0.4461	0.3%	4.98%
K/Q suited	48.28%	2.93	0.4128	0.3%	5.28%
A/T suited	48.5%	2.91	0.4121	0.3%	5.58%
A/Q unsuited	48.01%	2.93	0.4045	0.9%	6.49%
Pair of 7's	47.02%	2.97	0.3945	0.45%	6.94%
K/J suited	47.22%	2.92	0.3772	0.3%	7.24%
A/J unsuited	46.84%	2.91	0.3652	0.9%	8.14%
K/T suited	46.24%	2.91	0.3436	0.3%	8.45%
A/9 suited	46.16%	2.9	0.3366	0.3%	8.75%
K/Q unsuited	45.61%	2.92	0.3318	0.9%	9.65%
A/T unsuited	45.79%	2.9	0.3289	0.9%	10.56%
Q/J suited	45.55%	2.91	0.3256	0.3%	10.86%
A/8 suited	45.31%	2.88	0.3058	0.3%	11.16%
Pair of 6's	43.77%	2.96	0.2958	0.45%	11.61%
Q/T suited	44.59%	2.9	0.2932	0.3%	11.92%
K/J unsuited	44.46%	2.91	0.293	0.9%	12.82%
A/7 suited	44.32%	2.87	0.2719	0.3%	13.12%
K/9 suited	43.88%	2.89	0.2689	0.3%	13.42%
J/T suited	43.44%	2.9	0.2582	0.3%	13.73%
K/T unsuited	43.42%	2.9	0.2576	0.9%	14.63%
A/9 unsuited	43.25%	2.88	0.2473	0.9%	15.54%
A/5 suited	43.59%	2.85	0.2431	0.3%	15.84%
Q/J unsuited	42.76%	2.9	0.2406	0.9%	16.74%
A/6 suited	43.19%	2.86	0.2348	0.3%	17.04%
Q/9 suited	42.25%	2.89	0.2193	0.3%	17.35%
A/4 suited	42.7%	2.85	0.2161	0.3%	17.65%
A/8 unsuited	42.31%	2.87	0.2136	0.9%	18.55%
Q/T unsuited	41.73%	2.89	0.206	0.9%	19.46%
K/8 suited	41.91%	2.88	0.2048	0.3%	19.76%
Pair of 5's	40.7%	2.95	0.2017	0.45%	20.21%
A/3 suited	41.8%	2.85	0.1901	0.3%	20.51%
J/9 suited	41.11%	2.88	0.1844	0.3%	20.81%
K/7 suited	41.19%	2.86	0.1786	0.3%	21.12%
A/7 unsuited	41.25%	2.85	0.177	0.9%	22.02%
K/9 unsuited	40.88%	2.88	0.1769	0.9%	22.93%
J/T unsuited	40.58%	2.89	0.171	0.9%	23.83%
A/2 suited	40.86%	2.85	0.163	0.3%	24.13%
T/9 suited	40.38%	2.88	0.1617	0.3%	24.43%
Q/8 suited	40.28%	2.87	0.1564	0.3%	24.74%
K/6 suited	40.29%	2.85	0.1483	0.3%	25.04%
A/5 unsuited	40.46%	2.83	0.1458	0.9%	25.94%
A/6 unsuited	40.04%	2.84	0.1374	0.9%	26.85%
Q/9 unsuited	39.2%	2.87	0.1262	0.9%	27.75%
K/5 suited	39.51%	2.84	0.122	0.3%	28.05%
J/8 suited	39.14%	2.87	0.1219	0.3%	28.36%
A/4 unsuited	39.45%	2.83	0.1155	0.9%	29.26%
K/8 unsuited	38.75%	2.86	0.1079	0.9%	30.17%
Pair of 4's	37.42%	2.95	0.1026	0.45%	30.62%
T/8 suited	38.46%	2.86	0.1004	0.3%	30.92%
K/4 suited	38.63%	2.84	0.0956	0.3%	31.22%
Q/7 suited	38.33%	2.85	0.0937	0.3%	31.52%
J/9 unsuited	38.05%	2.87	0.0908	0.9%	32.43%
A/3 unsuited	38.5%	2.83	0.0879	0.9%	33.33%
K/7 unsuited	37.96%	2.84	0.0792	0.9%	34.24%
9/8 suited	37.74%	2.86	0.079	0.3%	34.54%
Q/6 suited	37.7%	2.84	0.0712	0.3%	34.84%
K/3 suited	37.78%	2.84	0.0712	0.3%	35.14%
T/9 unsuited	37.36%	2.86	0.0692	0.9%	36.05%
J/7 suited	37.21%	2.85	0.0605	0.3%	36.35%
Q/8 unsuited	37.09%	2.85	0.0585	0.9%	37.25%
A/2 unsuited	37.47%	2.82	0.0579	0.9%	38.16%
K/6 unsuited	37%	2.83	0.0469	0.9%	39.06%
K/2 suited	36.91%	2.83	0.0464	0.3%	39.37%
Q/5 suited	36.93%	2.83	0.0455	0.3%	39.67%
T/7 suited	36.51%	2.85	0.0394	0.3%	39.97%
J/8 unsuited	35.94%	2.85	0.0237	0.9%	40.87%
9/7 suited	35.95%	2.84	0.0223	0.3%	41.18%
Q/4 suited	36.08%	2.83	0.0203	0.3%	41.48%
K/5 unsuited	36.15%	2.82	0.0183	0.9%	42.38%
8/7 suited	35.65%	2.84	0.0134	0.3%	42.68%
Pair of 3's	34.33%	2.94	0.0087	0.45%	43.14%
T/8 unsuited	35.26%	2.84	0.0026	0.9%	44.04%
J/6 suited	35.33%	2.83	0.0009	0.3%	44.34%
Q/3 suited	35.22%	2.83	-0.0042	0.3%	44.65%
Q/7 unsuited	35.01%	2.83	-0.0082	0.9%	45.55%
K/4 unsuited	35.19%	2.81	-0.0104	0.9%	46.46%
J/5 suited	34.79%	2.82	-0.0182	0.3%	46.76%
9/8 unsuited	34.55%	2.84	-0.0185	0.9%	47.66%
T/6 suited	34.64%	2.83	-0.0194	0.3%	47.96%
Q/2 suited	34.4%	2.83	-0.0279	0.3%	48.27%
Q/6 unsuited	34.33%	2.82	-0.0326	0.9%	49.17%
9/6 suited	34.08%	2.83	-0.0357	0.3%	49.47%
K/3 unsuited	34.26%	2.81	-0.0374	0.9%	50.38%
8/6 suited	33.88%	2.83	-0.0416	0.3%	50.68%
J/7 unsuited	33.86%	2.83	-0.0422	0.9%	51.58%
7/6 suited	33.85%	2.83	-0.0424	0.3%	51.89%
J/4 suited	33.95%	2.82	-0.043	0.3%	52.19%
Q/5 unsuited	33.48%	2.81	-0.0607	0.9%	53.09%
T/7 unsuited	33.19%	2.82	-0.0626	0.9%	54%
K/2 unsuited	33.34%	2.81	-0.0642	0.9%	54.9%
J/3 suited	33.14%	2.82	-0.0659	0.3%	55.2%
T/5 suited	32.81%	2.81	-0.0768	0.3%	55.51%
9/7 unsuited	32.6%	2.82	-0.0799	0.9%	56.41%
Pair of 2's	31.4%	2.93	-0.0804	0.45%	56.86%
8/7 unsuited	32.33%	2.82	-0.0881	0.9%	57.77%
Q/4 unsuited	32.55%	2.8	-0.0886	0.9%	58.67%
J/2 suited	32.33%	2.82	-0.0891	0.3%	58.97%
6/5 suited	32.21%	2.82	-0.0923	0.3%	59.28%
9/5 suited	32.24%	2.81	-0.0927	0.3%	59.58%
T/4 suited	32.22%	2.81	-0.0945	0.3%	59.88%
7/5 suited	32.1%	2.82	-0.0962	0.3%	60.18%
8/5 suited	32.06%	2.81	-0.0979	0.3%	60.48%
J/6 unsuited	31.85%	2.81	-0.106	0.9%	61.39%
Q/3 unsuited	31.63%	2.8	-0.115	0.9%	62.29%
T/3 suited	31.42%	2.81	-0.1172	0.3%	62.59%
T/6 unsuited	31.16%	2.8	-0.1262	0.9%	63.5%
J/5 unsuited	31.26%	2.79	-0.1268	0.9%	64.4%
5/4 suited	30.98%	2.81	-0.1295	0.3%	64.71%
T/2 suited	30.6%	2.81	-0.1405	0.3%	65.01%
Q/2 unsuited	30.72%	2.8	-0.1413	0.9%	65.91%
9/6 unsuited	30.61%	2.8	-0.1421	0.9%	66.82%
6/4 suited	30.42%	2.81	-0.1453	0.3%	67.12%
8/6 unsuited	30.43%	2.8	-0.1473	0.9%	68.02%
7/6 unsuited	30.41%	2.8	-0.1477	0.9%	68.93%
9/4 suited	30.35%	2.8	-0.1492	0.3%	69.23%
7/4 suited	30.21%	2.81	-0.1522	0.3%	69.53%
J/4 unsuited	30.35%	2.79	-0.1538	0.9%	70.44%
8/4 suited	30.16%	2.8	-0.1542	0.3%	70.74%
9/3 suited	29.78%	2.8	-0.1654	0.3%	71.04%
J/3 unsuited	29.44%	2.79	-0.1798	0.9%	71.95%
5/3 suited	29.18%	2.8	-0.1821	0.3%	72.25%
T/5 unsuited	29.21%	2.78	-0.1872	0.9%	73.15%
9/2 suited	28.98%	2.8	-0.1883	0.3%	73.45%
6/5 unsuited	28.7%	2.79	-0.1998	0.9%	74.36%
6/3 suited	28.55%	2.8	-0.2002	0.3%	74.66%
9/5 unsuited	28.63%	2.78	-0.2035	0.9%	75.57%
J/2 unsuited	28.56%	2.78	-0.2052	0.9%	76.47%
7/5 unsuited	28.54%	2.78	-0.2053	0.9%	77.38%
T/4 unsuited	28.55%	2.78	-0.2072	0.9%	78.28%
4/3 suited	28.28%	2.8	-0.2074	0.3%	78.58%
8/5 unsuited	28.47%	2.78	-0.2078	0.9%	79.49%
7/3 suited	28.3%	2.8	-0.2082	0.3%	79.79%
8/3 suited	28.28%	2.8	-0.2093	0.3%	80.09%
8/2 suited	27.73%	2.79	-0.2253	0.3%	80.39%
T/3 unsuited	27.68%	2.77	-0.2324	0.9%	81.3%
5/2 suited	27.3%	2.79	-0.2371	0.3%	81.6%
5/4 unsuited	27.37%	2.78	-0.2401	0.9%	82.5%
6/2 suited	26.65%	2.79	-0.2559	0.3%	82.81%
6/4 unsuited	26.76%	2.77	-0.2576	0.9%	83.71%
T/2 unsuited	26.79%	2.77	-0.2578	0.9%	84.62%
4/2 suited	26.49%	2.79	-0.2599	0.3%	84.92%
7/2 suited	26.44%	2.79	-0.2628	0.3%	85.22%
9/4 unsuited	26.59%	2.77	-0.2644	0.9%	86.12%
7/4 unsuited	26.51%	2.77	-0.2657	0.9%	87.03%
8/4 unsuited	26.42%	2.77	-0.2687	0.9%	87.93%
9/3 unsuited	25.97%	2.76	-0.2825	0.9%	88.84%
3/2 suited	25.61%	2.79	-0.285	0.3%	89.14%
5/3 unsuited	25.46%	2.76	-0.2961	0.9%	90.05%
9/2 unsuited	25.1%	2.76	-0.3073	0.9%	90.95%
6/3 unsuited	24.74%	2.76	-0.3168	0.9%	91.86%
4/3 unsuited	24.49%	2.76	-0.3238	0.9%	92.76%
7/3 unsuited	24.47%	2.76	-0.3256	0.9%	93.67%
8/3 unsuited	24.4%	2.75	-0.3285	0.9%	94.57%
8/2 unsuited	23.79%	2.75	-0.3462	0.9%	95.48%
5/2 unsuited	23.43%	2.75	-0.3558	0.9%	96.38%
6/2 unsuited	22.69%	2.75	-0.3769	0.9%	97.29%
4/2 unsuited	22.56%	2.75	-0.3801	0.9%	98.19%
7/2 unsuited	22.44%	2.74	-0.3854	0.9%	99.1%
3/2 unsuited	21.61%	2.74	-0.4072	0.9%	100%
Total	2.84	100%

Methodology:

This table is the result of a random simulation of 68,612,544,000 games and assumes all players stay in until the end of the hand.

The following table shows my power rating for each initial 2-card hand in a 3-player game. The numbers are on a 0 to 40 scale. Use the top table if you have a pair, the middle table if your cards are suited, and the bottom table if your cards are unsuited. Except for a pair,look up your high card along the left and your low card along the top.

Inside Links

Written by: Michael Shackleford

Texas Hold'em Poker Hands Ranking Chart

So what are the winning hands in poker?

In most poker varieties, the players use some of the cards they hold and combine them with some of the community cards to form the best possible five-card hand. In Texas Hold’em, for example, each player holds two cards, and there are five community cards when all cards are dealt. Each player can use one, two, or even none of his hole cards in combination with the community cards to form the best possible hand. If two or more players hold hands of equal values, they split the pot and share whatever amount is in it.

For example, let’s say that there are three players holding

• Player A: Q♣Q♠
• Player B: A♠10♦
• Player C: 7♦6♦

And the board is : A♣Q♦J♦9♣8♠

• For player A, his best possible hand (using both of his hole cards) is three of a kind Q♣Q♠Q♦A♣J♦
• For player B, his best possible hand (using only one of his hole cards) is a straight Q♦J♦10♦9♣8♠
• For player C, his best possible hand (using none one of his hole cards) is ace high A♣Q♦J♦9♣8♠

The value of the hands somehow reflects how difficult or rare it is to form them. In the example above, the straight is the highest ranked hand (also the rarest), so player B wins. Let’s take a look at all the hand rankings.

Hand Rankings (ordered by increasing value)

Hand	Example	Explanation
10. High card	Unrelated and unpaired cards
9. One pair	Two cards of the same rank
8. Two pair	Two different pairs
7. Three of a kind (or set)	Three cards of the same rank
6. Straight	Five consecutive cards
5. Flush	All cards of the same suit
4. Full house	Three of a kind with a pair
3. Four of a kind (or quads)	Four cards of the same rank
2. Straight flush	Five consecutive cards, all of the same suit
1. Royal flush	Ace-High Straight Flush

High card

This holding is the lowest possible. It means that you have not paired your cards, and your cards are unrelated, so no straight or flush either. When two or more players have “high cards,” the one holding the highest cards wins, ace being the highest and deuce the lowest. So, if someone holds has an ace (called ace-high), he wins an opponent having king-high. If the highest card of both players is the same, then the second-highest card counts, and so on.

One Pair

Having one pair is the second in value and wins only x-high hands. Between players holding one pair, the one with the highest pair wins. If two players have the same pair, the one holding the highest side card, also called a kicker, wins.

Texas Holdem Poker Hands Ranked

Two Pair

Two pair is better than one pair. Between players holding two pair, the one holding the highest pair wins. If two players hold the same high pair, then the second pair counts and then the kicker (the fifth card).

Three of a Kind

Holding three of a kind (three cards of the same rank) is wins over two-pair. Once again, the highest three of a kind wins, and if there is a tie, the kickers count (the remaining two cards of the five-card holding).

Straight

On top of three of a kind comes the straight. It consists of five consecutive cards. Between players holding a straight, the one with the highest cards wins.

Flush

A flush wins a straight. To make a flush, all of the five cards have to be of the same suit. If more than one players have a flush, the one with the highest cards wins. The type of suit (♥♦♠♣) does not play a role in the ranking.

Full House

A full house beats a flush. It consists of three of a kind and a pair. Between players having full houses, the one that has the highest three of a kind wins. In a tie, the pair becomes decisive.

Four of a Kind

Texas Holdem Poker Hands Rankings

Four of a kind wins a full house. Between players having four of a kind, the one that has the highest four of a kind wins. In a tie, the player with the highest kicker wins the hand.

Straight Flush

A straight flush is both a straight (five consecutive cards) and a flush (cards of the same suit). Between players holding straight flushes, the one with the highest cards wins. The type of suit (♥♦♠♣) does not matter for the ranking.

Royal Flush

A royal flush is the best possible hand! It is a straight flush with the highest card being an ace. If you hold a royal flush you have nothing to fear 🙂

Texas Holdem Poker Hands Ranked

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